On 6 March 2026, the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee published its report titled “AI, Copyright and the Creative Industries.” The report stresses that the government must protect the interests of British creators and strengthen the existing legal framework regarding AI and copyright.
The Committee proposes a “licensing first” approach, emphasizing that the government should reject any new exception that allows copyright-protected works to be used without permission. This would ensure that creators are properly compensated and that there is transparency about how AI training data is used.
Among its key recommendations, the report suggests:
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Strengthening licensing, transparency, and enforcement of copyright laws.
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Issuing a clear public statement that AI companies operating in the United Kingdom must license the data used to train their AI systems.
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Ending the prioritization of large multinational tech companies over the interests of creators.
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Ensuring that AI training is not treated as “learning” in a way that bypasses copyright protections.
The report highlights the need to balance technological innovation with the protection of creative industries, ensuring that artists, writers, musicians, and other creators are fairly rewarded for the use of their work in AI systems.